Refrigerator display case



l R. P. DAEMICKE REFRIGERATO'R DISPLAY CASE Filed May 5, 1954 Feb; 4, 96.

Patented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOR DISPLAY CASE tion of Illinois Application May 5, 1934, Serial No. 724,091

3 Claims.

My invention relates to service counters or cases of the mechanically refrigerated type for the display of perishable articles of food, such as meats and the like, wherein the refrigerating coils are preferably arranged in the bottom of the case and embedded in a suitable cold conducting slab forming compound or cementitious material.

My invention involves the idea of also embedding the refrigerating coil, which is disposed along the rear side of the case in a plane above the main bottom of the display casa-in a slab of suitable material whereby dehydration of the display case contents and frosting of `said coil, heretofore left exposed, will be prevented and the dripping of condensate onto the foodstuffs will also be prevented. This slab may be made of suitable cold conducting and more or less temperature retaining composition of stone particles or metal filings with a binder of plastic or cementitious material; and the slab may be made integral with a similar slab arranged to embed the coils of the display compartment bottom.

In display cases of this character, wherein the refrigerant medium containing coils are embedded as stated, it is necessary to employ wire or enameled trays for holding the cuts o-f meat instead of placing the meat directly on the bottom slab because it was found that the meat would become frozen to the slab and hence prevent its easy removal.

The use of the wire or enameled trays, however, has been found objectionable because proper air circulation and hence radiation of the cold air about the meat or other food-stuffs Was interfered with.

Then, too, the use of trays not only necessitated the extra expense or cost of such trays, but also required the removal of the trays when proper cleaning of the display case was desired.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a construction whereby a more sanitary case is provided and the use of trays eliminated; the construction being such that direct contact with the coldest portions of the case bottom forming element is prevented and free flow of refrigerating air about the superposed meat or foodstuffs is obtained and hence a more uniform refrigeration provided.

The objects and advantages enumerated as well as other advantages inherent in the invention will all be readily comprehended from the detailed description of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

(Cl. (i2-89.5)

Figure l is an isometric sectional View of a display case provided with my invention.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view of a bottom plate taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

My invention relates to mechanically refrigerated display cases especially intended for displaying meats and other food-stuffs which, upon selection by the customer, are to be removed from the case through suitable slide panels or 10 doors. In this type of display case, the refrigerating coils, indicated at lll in the drawing, have been embedded in a cementitious or other suitable cold temperature conducting material as indicated at it; while the horizontally disposed pipe Sila, arranged in a plane above the bottom, was left exposed.

This conducting material was usually arranged on top of a layer of insulating material as at l2. The compound or layer of conducting material l l preferably consists of a mass of crushed stone or other conducting material mixed in or bound together by a suitable plastic material or binder, such as asphalt; or the conducting layer may consist of hydraulically setting cementitious material.

The mass Il is preferably of a suitable thickness to completely encase the coils lll, except the immediate upper surfaces thereof; the top of the layer and across the upper surfaces of the coils preferably consisting of a comparatively thin layer of the plastic binding material--such as asphalt for example.

In display cases adapted to mechanical refrigeration, it has been usual to leave Athe elevated coil, namely pipe lila, uncovered, causing considerable dehydration and frosting. One object of my invention is to also embed this coil or pipe ma in a temperature conducting and retaining compound I a which may be similar to and made continuous' with the mass or material Il of the bottom proper. The mass or slab which embeds pipe l()a is formed so as to completely encase the pipe llla except at the forward side disposed toward the case interior. The outer surface of this slab or mass Ila, like mass Il, consists of or is provided with a thin layer of the binding material. Before this layer becomes dry or set I place a metallic plate I3 thereon, preferably a metal, such as stainless steel, which will readily transfer the cold.

The plate is firmly pressed down onto the plastic binding material so as not to leave a space therebeneath, and when the plastic coating becomes 55 dry or set the plate I3 will be firmly sealed in place.

The plate I3, which is preferably coextensive with the bottom of the case and formed or bent upwardly so as to extend across the front face of the slab portion Ila, consists preferably of sheet metal which, throughout the main bottom forming portion, is formed to provide a plurality of upstanding arcuate portions or ribs I4.

These upstanding arcuate portions or ribs I4 are preferably formed t-o extend transversely of the sheet, namely in a direction transversely of the case from front to rear; the glass panel I5 constituting the front of the case, while the slide panels or doors. I6 are at the rear or salesmans side of the case.

The arcuate portions or ribs are uniformly spaced apart a predetermined distance and are of uniform height as shown, with the distance between the adjacent ribs preferably somewhat greater than the heighth of the ribs; while the ends of these ribs terminate at a distance removed from the front longitudinal edge of the sheet and from the forward face of the slab portion I Ia', where the ribs slope downwardly or vanish into the plain or flat surface of the sheet, as shown. at I'I.

The metal sheetr I3, at its forward longitudinal edge, namely beyond the forward ends of the ribs I4 and forward of the main portion o-f the slab material II, is bent or dished to provide a drain trough or gutter as at I3, whereby all moisture or water will be collected and conveyed to a suitable drain outlet at one end of the case.

When the sheet I3 isv pressed downwardly onto the binding plastic material, a portion of the ma- Y terial displaced finds its way into the valleys or cavities on the lower side of the sheet formed by the upstanding arcuate portions or ribs I4, thereby providing a thin coating on the lower sides. of these ribs.

On the other hand, the main portion at the rear longitudinal side and the intermediate fiat portions of the plate will practically contact with the cooling coils III and coil Illa; said portions being also in intimate contact with the cold conducting material or slabs I I and I Ia in which the coils are embedded.

With the upstanding portions or ribs uniformly spaced comparatively short distances apart, the need for trays as heretofore employed is obviated, as the cuts of meat or other food-stuffs may be placed directly on the ribsv I3 cf the plate.

By forming the upstanding portions or ribs I4 as described and shown, it is apparent that a series of open-ended air circulating channels are provided intermediate of the ribs, whereby proper circulation beneath the -cuts of meat or other foodstuffs will be provided and the latter maintained in better condition.

With my improved plate the cuts of meat cannot become frozen to the bottom chilling slab of the counter, as, however, has heretofore been the case, because of the somewhat insulated condi- Y tion of the ribs as heretofore mentioned, and

outer cover of the cold conducting or chilling slab of which my improved plate becomes an intimate part; the plate providing for direct radiation from between the upstanding portions or ribs and from the rib sides.

A free iiow of refrigerating air-namely air in immediate contact with the refrigerating slab or element-beneath the meat and other food.- stuffs and in immediate c-ontact therewith is also provided and constantly ensured; a condition, however, which is not obtainable with the trays as at present employed in display counters or cases of the class here in question. My construction, therefore, eliminates the expense of the usual trays; a more sanitary and sightly condition obtained and a more practical and easily cleaned display case bottom provided through the elimination of wire or other'bottom racks or trays.

Although the upstanding arcuate portions or ribs are somewhat insulated against the direct action of the coils, these portions or ribs will become chilled by conduction from the flat portions of the plate, whether the ribs are formed into the plate or are integrally united with the bottom sheet as by welding.

It is apparent that with my improved plate, the cold temperature or condition of the slab material is entirely transmitted to the outer plate I3 and radiated by the plurality of upstanding portions or ribs which, when meat is superposed thereon, provide a plurality of air circulating channels open at both ends to ensure free air flow;

By also embedding the elevated coil or pipe II]a in a mass of conducting material, the case is given a greater hold-over period, after the refrigeration apparatus has been shut down, than heretofore has been the case.

At the same time frosting will be eliminated and hence a greater quantity of moisture in the case interior will be retained and hence the foodstuffs maintained in better condition.

Then, too, by providing the cold retaining slab Il and making it continuous with the bottom coil enclosing slab II, the shifting of food-stuffs beneath the elevated coil IIla is made impossible, while dripping of condensate onto food-stuffs or meat holding platters is obviated; hence a cleaner and more sanitary condition of the display case obtained; at the same time providing more moisture in and less dehydration of the case contents; and the meat or food kept in better condition.

The invention has been described in terms einployed merely for purposes of description and not as terms of limitation, as modifications may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim'is:

1. In a display case of the character described provided with refrigerating coils in the bottom embedded in a downwardly sloping slab of temperature conducting and retaining compound, a temperature conducting metal plate intimately sealed to said slab, said plate being formed with upstanding food holding ribs arranged in parallel spaced relation to provide a plurality of sloping air circulating passages therebetween, said ribs terminating short of the longitudinal edges of the plate and tapering into the main portion of the plate.

2. In a display case of the character described provided with refrigerating coils embedded in a downwardly sloping slab of temperature conduct- A ing and retaining compound, a temperature con- CIE vide a plurality of sloping open ended air conducting spaces.

3. In a display case of the character described provided with refrigerating coils arranged along the bottom and a refrigerating coil arranged above the normal bottom of the case, a slab composed of a mass` of temperature conducting particles and binding material moulded about the bottom coils and upwardly about the elevated coil in intimate relation with the coils, and an outer metallic covering for said slab intimately sealed by the binding material and formed with a plurality of upstanding portions spaced apart to provide air spaces therebetween.

ROLAND P. DAEMICKE. 

